Anthrax Definition
ănthrăks
anthraces
noun
An infectious, usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, especially of cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The disease can be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal substances, such as hair, feces, or hides, and is characterized by ulcerative skin lesions.
American Heritage
An infectious hemorrhagic disease of wild and domesticated animals, esp. cattle and sheep, that is caused by a bacillus (Bacillus anthracis) and can be transmitted to people: it is characterized by black pustules.
Webster's New World
Any such pustule.
Webster's New World
Webster's New World
A serious infectious disease of mammals caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, most commonly affecting grazing animals. The disease can be transmitted to humans by handling infected animals or contaminated animal products (resulting in cutaneous lesions), by ingesting contaminated meat, or by inhaling bacterial spores.
American Heritage Medicine
Origin of Anthrax
Middle English antrax malignant boil from Latin anthrax carbuncle from Greek
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek ἄνθραξ (anthrax).
From Wiktionary
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to anthrax using the buttons below.